Leaving School

1978 June Presentation on retirement of Sr Bernadette

We always thought that leaving school is good, but it is not, it is incredibly sad. In P4 my second best friend Benjamin Talec left with his little brother James. Outside Tom, Benjamin and I always played Star Wars. He eventually told Tom and I about what was going to happen, how we were not going to see him that much anymore. I was devastated about the news. In the end we will all leave and leaving isn‛t fun. Jonathan Beattie, Downpatrick Primary School P7

I was excited to get to wear a uniform, that was one of the big things. I would have to go to the shops and buy a uniform. I was excited to play hockey. I even thought I would play rugby. I wasn’t aware that the girls didn’t play rugby. My brother had rugby boots and I thought I would inherit those and I would play rugby too.

Gill Kimpton

Going to a new school will be diffi cult because you are going into a world of the unknown and you are saying farewell to teachers, friends, family and good memories. Then you meet new teachers and pupils. I will miss my classmates who are going to other schools.

Tom Martin, Downpatrick Primary School P7

Cup winners, 2011 I attended the Southwell School and I left the school 2 months before my 14th birthday. I remember leaving because I couldn’t get away quick enough… I felt grand because I was very much into farming at that time. And we had a donkey and cart, and I would have taken out this donkey and cart to do wee odds and ends. So I was delighted to get away from the school. Joe Mc Comb

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Home time convent of mercy 1978 Off on a trip, 2008

26 LEAVING SCHOOL We had a leavers’ mass. We were all very close. Even now I would still talk to a lot of girls that I went to primary school with. Th e leavers’ mass is very sad and I remember a lot of people crying and aft er the mass was fi nished, that was when everyone would have signed our normal white school shirts. Everybody just went round and signed them with a wee message… we didn’t want to leave.

Gemma Vaughan

It will be just like starting P.1 again. I will be sad on leaving my primary school but life will go on! On moving school I will be sad and then I might just forget about primary school and on the last day I might be tearful about leaving my friends. Abigail McKeever, Downpatrick Primary School P7 When I think about leaving I think about leaving primary school, not seeing the teachers and best friends and not seeing familiar faces. A new uniform, new classroom, new buses but at least some of my friends are coming too. I know for a fact I‛ll cry at the leavers‛ assembly. The thought I‛m most scared of is growing up. I am sad yet excited.

Alex Swaffi eld, Downpatrick Primary School P7

P7, 1986 Downpatrick Primary School I remember going around saying goodbye to all the teachers. Th e teacher at the time had a party for us. I just have this memory of clearing out the classroom with the teacher and there was a skip at the end of the school and we brought a lot of things out to it. We had never done that before. Paul Gilchrist

P7, 2007 leavers’ assembly Downpatrick Primary School Comments from pupils in Our Lady and St Patrick Primary school It will be good meeting new people. There will be hard work and hard homework. Brianne Duffy There will be new things to try. I look forward to getting a new uniform and riding a bus each day. Niamh O‛Neill I will miss my friends who are going to different schools. I am happy for getting into an all girl school. Alanna Crane I will miss the kindness of all the teachers. Mrs Vint is the kindest person in the whole school. Claire Morrissey Leaving will be an adventure. I am sure teachers will help you with anything you are stuck on. Ben Curran It is going to be scary – you are the biggest – then will be the smallest. I am going to miss the girls a tiny bit. Ronan Mc Kinney

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